Convicted Murderers Whose
Victims Were
Found Alive

Blount County, AL

Bill Wilson

Late 1908

In 1908, Bill Wilson's wife, Jenny, divorced and left him. She took their 19-month-old child with her. In 1912, the skeletal
remains of an adult and child were discovered by the Warrior River. As
news of the discovery spread, many area residents, presuming the remains to
be ancient, visited the site in the hope of finding Indian relics.Read More by Clicking Here

Lowndes County, AL

Butler & Yelder

Apr 1928

Louise Butler and her paramour, George Yelder, were convicted
of murdering Louise's 14-year-old niece, Topsy Warren. Topsy's sister
and two of her cousins testified that Louise struck Topsy with an ax, with
which George dismembered the corpse. The remains allegedly were put
into a sack and then thrown into the Alabama River. Louise had
confessed to the murder initially, but the confession was suppressed at
trial. Both defendants were sentenced to life in prison.

Less than a week after sentencing, Topsy was discovered alive
and well, and residing less than twenty miles away. In June 1928,
George and Louise were formally exonerated and released. The children
then admitted that they had fabricated the story at the behest of a man who
had a grievance against George. It was never explained why they also
had implicated Louise, or why she had confessed. (CWC) (CTI)
[7/05]

Marion County, AR

Charles Hudspeth

1887

Charles Hudspeth was convicted of murder and hanged while his
alleged victim was still alive. Hudspeth became romantically involved with
Rebecca Watkins, and when the two were questioned on the disappearance of
Rebecca's husband, George Watkins, Rebecca told authorities Hudspeth had
killed him. Hudspeth was granted a retrial because testimony regarding
Rebecca's alleged lack of good character was improperly barred. Hudspeth
was convicted again and hanged on December 30, 1892. In June 1893,
Hudspeth's lawyer located George Watkins alive and living in Kansas. (CWC)
[7/05]

San Bernardino County, CA

Rivera & Walpole

Jan 16, 1965

In 1965 Antonio Rivera and his wife, Merla, were unable to
support their seriously ill 3-year-old daughter, Judy Rivera, and abandoned
her at a distant San Francisco gas station in the hope that she would
receive better care. The San Francisco Chronicle reported the
finding of the little girl the next day. In the years following, the couple
divorced, and Merla remarried, becoming Mrs. Walpole. In 1973, the body of
a little girl was found near Fontana, about ten miles from where the couple
had lived. Authorities concluded the found body was Judy Rivera and that
her parents must have murdered her. When Rivera and Walpole were brought to
trial, the jury did not believe their story and both were convicted of
murder. Before sentencing, the judge set aside the verdict and directed the
prosecution to investigate the parents' claim. An investigator located the
girl mentioned in the newspaper story and after tests were performed,
authorities were satisfied that the girl was in all likelihood Judy Rivera.
(CWC) (ISI) (NY
Times) [7/05]

Harlan County, KY

Condy Dabney

Aug 23, 1925 (Coxton)

Condy Dabney was convicted of murdering Mary Vickery, 14, and
sentenced to life imprisonment. Vickery had disappeared on Aug. 23,
1925. A month later a girl's body was found nearby in an abandoned
mine shaft. After Mary's father had posted a $500 reward for
information, a woman named Marie Jackson came forward and claimed to have
witnessed Dabney murder Vickery.

The prosecution's case against Dabney was weak. The
found body was too decayed to be dead only a month and witnesses disputed
Jackson's whereabouts on the day of the alleged murder. Still Dabney
was convicted. Twelve months after Dabney's conviction, a police
officer in Williamsburg, KY, 85 miles away, happened to notice the name Mary
Vickery on a hotel register. Because the name seemed familiar, he
spoke with her and realized that she was the person Dabney was convicted of
murdering. Mary said she ran away because she was not getting along
with her stepmother. Dabney was released and Jackson was convicted of
perjury. The found body was never identified. (CWC) (CTI)
[10/05]

Gage County, NE

William Jackson Marion

May 15, 1872

In 1883, a body was found in clothing that witnesses
identified as John Cameron's. Cameron had disappeared 11 years before. William Jackson Marion was convicted of murdering him and hanged on Mar. 25,
1887. However, Cameron turned up alive in 1891 and explained that he had
absconded to Mexico to avoid a shotgun wedding. Marion was granted a
posthumous pardon on the 100th anniversary of his hanging. (CWC)
(Appeals: 1884,
1886)

Bennington County, VT

Jesse & Stephen Boorn

1812 (Manchester)

When Russel Colvin disappeared in 1812, suspicion of foul play
fell on his brothers-in-law, Jesse and Stephen Boorn, who held Colvin in
disdain. Seven years later, the uncle of the suspects had a recurring
dream in which Colvin appeared to him and said that he had been slain. Colvin did not identify his killers but said that his remains had been put
in a cellar hole on the Boorn farm. The cellar hole was excavated but
no remains were found. Shortly afterward, a dog unearthed some large
bones from beneath a nearby stump. Three local physicians examined the
bones and declared them human.

Officials took Jesse Boorn into custody. They would have
arrested Stephen Boorn as well, but he had moved to New York. While in
custody, Jesse's cellmate, forger Silas Merill, told authorities that Jesse
confessed. In return for agreeing to testify against Jesse, Merrill
was released from jail. Faced with mounting evidence against him,
Jesse admitted to the murder, but placed principal blame on Stephen, who
legally was beyond the reach of the local authorities. However, a
Vermont constable met up with Stephen, and Stephen agreed to return to
Vermont with him to clear his name. After his return to Vermont,
Stephen confessed as well, although he claimed to have acted in
self-defense.

The local physicians then changed their minds that the found
bones were human, and declared them animal. Nevertheless, the
prosecution pressed ahead with its case and both of the Boorn brothers were
convicted and sentenced to death. The Vermont legislature commuted
Jesse's sentence to life in prison, but denied relief to Stephen. Shortly before Stephen was to be hanged in 1820, Colvin was found living in
New Jersey. On Colvin's return to Vermont, both brothers were
released. (CWC) (CTI)
[12/05]

Nansemond County, VA

Ernest Lyons

July 31, 1908 (Reid's Ferry)

Ernest Lyons, the newly elected pastor of small church in
Reid's Ferry, got into a quarrel with the old pastor, James Smith, over $45
in church funds. Lyons threatened to kill Smith. Smith soon
disappeared from the community. A few months afterwards a decomposed
body that seemed to match Smith's description was found near Suffolk. When questioned, Lyons stated he had seen Smith in Portsmouth, Norfolk, and
Newport News. These statements were shown to be untrue.

After Lyons' trial and conviction, the judge was willing to
grant his lawyer's motion for a hearing for a new trial, but only after the
lawyer went to Lyons, told him the motion was denied, and asked what really
happened. When the lawyer followed instructions, Lyons stated he had
been involved in the murder as part of a conspiracy with church members who
had testified for the prosecution. Three years later Smith was located
living in North Carolina. He had read newspaper stories about Lyons'
trial and conviction, but had done nothing because he feared prosecution for
absconding with the $45 over which he and Lyons had quarreled. (CWC) (CTI)
[7/05] (Note: Nansemond County became a city in 1972, then merged with
the existing City of Suffolk in 1974).

Spain

Valero & Sánchez

Aug 21, 1910

On Aug. 21, 1910, in the small town of Osa de la Vega, in the
province of Cuenca, José María Grimaldos, known as “Shorty,” was seen for
the last time. He was on a road to the nearby village of Tresjuncos. His family feared foul play and reported his disappearance to the Civil
Guard (police). During the investigation the family and others
expressed their suspicions that two shepherds, Gregorio Valero and León
Sánchez had killed him for his money. This investigation was closed in
Sept. 1911 without any indictments.

In 1913 a new judge by the name of Isasa arrived. Influenced by the local boss and right-wing politician, the judge reopened
the case. The two suspects were arrested by the Civil Guard and, under
torture, they confessed they killed Grimaldos, cut his body up, and fed it
to pigs. The “fiscal” (DA) asked for the death penalty. The case
took its time in the court system, but on May 25, 1918 a popular jury
convicted the defendants of murder. They both were sentenced to 18
years in prison. Both were released on account of a general pardon on
Feb. 20, 1924 after serving eleven years of imprisonment.

Two years later, the priest of Tresjuncos received a letter
from the pastor of Mira, a town about 100 miles distant, requesting the
birth certificate of Grimaldos so that the same could marry. The
priest had been one of the strongest supporters of the guilt of Valero and
Sánchez and decided not to respond. Time passes and Grimaldos,
impatient at the lack of a response, traveled to Tresjuncos and marched
straight into the village. Grimaldos' presence in the village caused a
sensation. Some thought they were seeing a ghost and the local judge
had him arrested. However, it became apparent that Grimaldos was who
he appeared to be.

With much legal difficulty, the case against Valero and
Sanchez was reopened and, after much delay, their convictions were
overturned. In 1979, a movie entitled El crimen de Cuenca (The
Crime of Cuenca) was made based on the case. The movie was
initially banned in Spain because the torture scenes in it are depicted in
great detail and crudity. However, in 1981, the movie was allowed to
be shown in Spain and became a box office success. (ECDC) (PE)
(EC)
(Wiki) (PM)
[11/07]

England

Perry Family

Aug 16, 1660

William Harrison, the manager of
a wealthy estate, went out to collect rent money from tenants. When he did
not return at his usual time, his servant, John Perry, was sent to look for
him. Harrison's hat and comb were found and had been slashed. Harrison's
collar band was also found with bloodstains. Harrison was presumed murdered
and searches were made for his body, but it was never found.

For unknown
reasons, John Perry confessed to the murder of Harrison and implicated his
brother and mother. Perry later retracted his confession and his brother
and mother professed their innocence, but all were convicted of the murder
and hanged. Two years after the executions, Harrison turned up alive. He
told a story of having been kidnapped and held as a slave in Turkey. (CWP)
(CW)
(FJDB) (F)
[12/06]

Slovenia

Franz Bratuscha

Apr 16, 1900 (Majsperk)

Franz Bratuscha was convicted of the murder of his 12-year-old
daughter, Johanna. On April 16, 1900, she disappeared from her home in
Majsperk, Slovenia, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Bratuscha reported her disappearance to the police. About 9 weeks
later he read in a newspaper that the body of a dead girl was found in
Spielfeld, Austria, a town 26 miles to the north. Bratuscha went to
Spielfeld and when police showed him the dead girl's clothes, he identified
them as belonging to his daughter. He told police he had bought the
fabric out of which the clothes were made and offered to bring the leftover
portion of the fabric. Police were satisfied that the dead girl was
his daughter and they gave him the clothes.Read More by Clicking Here

Poland

Gawenda & Gallus

1882 (Radgoszcz)

Johann Gawenda was convicted of the murder of his 16-year-old
stepdaughter, Katharina Sroka, also known as Katie. Katie's mother died in
1867, leaving her two-year-old daughter an estate consisting of three acres
of fields and a cottage. Katie's father, Ignatz Sroka, managed the estate
following the death of his wife. He subsequently married Marie Gallus. This
marriage did not last long, as Ignatz was convicted of murder and died in
prison in 1875. His widow Marie then married Johann Gawenda, who took over
the administration of the estate for the still underage Katie and at the
same time pledged to provide for her maintenance and upbringing. Gawenda
neglected these obligations in a most unscrupulous manner, as he monopolized
the land and treated its owner so badly that she had to work as a maid and
also to depend on charity.Read More by Clicking Here

Uganda

Edmary & Masembe

1981

Mpagi Edward Edmary and his cousin Fred Masembe were sentenced
to death for the alleged 1981 murder of George William Wandyaka, a neighbor
in Masaka, Uganda. Mpagi thought he saw Wandyaka standing at the back of
the court during his trial. A few years later, further sightings were made
of Wandyaka in Jinja, Uganda. Masembe died in 1985. In 1989, authorities
in Masaka confirmed that Wandyaka was alive, and informed the attorney
general, though Mpagi remained on death row for a further 11 years. It
transpired that Wandyaka's parents had a grudge against Mpagi's parents, and
had staged the murder to hurt them. A doctor had received a bribe to
testify that he had carried out a post-mortem on the alleged victim's body. Mpagi was pardoned in 2000. Wandyaka died of natural causes in 2002 before
Mpagi had the chance to meet him. (Guardian)
(AI) (Video) [9/09]

Pakistan

Malik Taj Mohammad

2003

Malik Taj Mohammad was convicted of the kidnapping and murder
of Malkani Bibi. Prosecutors claimed that he killed her over an
acrimonious property dispute. Mohammad claimed that he could not have
murdered Bibi, as she was still alive. However, he did not present any
proof and the trial court relied on testimony of Bibi's relatives who said
they had buried Bibi. In 2006, Mohammad's supporters discovered that
Bibi was alive and imprisoned in the eastern Pakistan city of Gujarat. She had been imprisoned there on a theft conviction in 2004.

Mohammed petitioned Pakistan's Supreme Court for a new trial
based on the new evidence. The Court then summoned Bibi to appear
before it. Satisfied that Mohammed had been wrongly convicted, the
Court ordered his immediate release. It also ordered a lower court to
investigate how Mohammed had been prosecuted and convicted of a crime that
never happened. (JD)
[2/07]

China

Teng Xingshan

Apr 1987

Teng Xingshan was convicted of the murder of Shi Xiaorong. A chopped up body identified as Shi's was found in Mayang County, Hunan
Province in April 1987. Police settled on Teng as the guilty party
because he was a butcher and the dismemberment was “very professionally”
done. Teng soon confessed to the murder, allegedly after police beat
it out of him. However, he protested his innocence all the way to the
execution ground. Authorities alleged that Teng had sex with Shi and
killed her because he suspected she stole his money. Teng was executed
by gunshot in Jan. 1989.

Teng's family had heard reports that Shi was alive in
neighboring Guizhou province as early as 1993, but it took years to verify
the reports and Teng's family lacked the funds and the courage to sue the
government. The case first received publicity in May 2005, when the
family formally filed a lawsuit with the Hunan Higher People's Court. News reports of another Chinese murder victim turning up alive in March 2005
may have prompted the decision. Shi denied ever meeting Teng and said
she had been sold into marriage to a man in eastern Shandong Province a
month before the chopped up body was found. Shi returned to her
hometown in Guizhou Province in 1993. Teng was posthumously exonerated
in Jan. 2006. (UPI) [4/08]

China

She Xianglin

Convicted 1994

After having an argument with him, She Xianglin's wife, Zhang
Zaiyu, went missing. Several weeks later police found the body of an
unidentified woman in a local pond. Police interrogated Xianglin for 10
days, during which he was also tortured. Xianglin confessed to murdering
his wife and was sentenced to death. His sentence was later reduced to 15
years imprisonment, after a higher court in the province (Hubei) overturned
the verdict due to lack of evidence. Several of Xianglin's family members
were also jailed for advocating his innocence or claiming that they saw
Zhang alive after the authorities alleged she was dead. In March 2005,
Zhang turned up alive and had merely run away from her marriage. She had
remarried in a remote village in eastern Shandong province, unaware of the
fate of her former husband. Xianglin was released. One of the officers who
allegedly took part in Xianglin's torture hanged himself when authorities
began an investigation into the incident. Xianglin and several family
members were awarded 450,000 Yuan ($55,500) for wrongs committed against
them. (FJDB)
[12/06]

China

Zhao Zuohai

June 1997

Zhao Zuohai was convicted of murdering his neighbor Zhao
Zhenshang. In June 1997, the two Zhaos, both about 45, had a hatchet
fight in their hometown of Zhaolou village in Zhecheng County, Shangqiu City
Prefecture, Henan Province, China. Four months later Zhenshang's
nephew reported to police that his uncle was missing. In May 1999,
after a headless body was found in a village well, Zuohai was arrested for
the murder of Zhenshang and detained without trial for three years.Read More by Clicking Here

Related Case: Found Guilty of Manslaughter

Le Flore County, OK

Vaught, Stiles, & Bates

Aug 18, 1907

In the fall of 1907, a human skeleton was found in a wooded
area, about 3/4 of a mile from the nearest road. The nearest human
habitation was the Bates sawmill, about four miles away, near the town of
Heavener. Not long before, in August, an employee of the mill named Bud
Terry had mysteriously disappeared. Terry was in his early twenties. His
aunt, Mrs. Knotts, with whom he lived, had heard nothing from him since his
disappearance. Knotts had raised Terry since he was orphaned, and it was
Terry's custom to keep her informed whenever he left home for any length of
time. There was suspicion that W. L. Bates, the owner of the sawmill, and
his employees knew more about the Terry's disappearance than they were
willing to admit.Read More by Clicking Here